Mary Magdalene

[Party_of_Five]

It is commonly thought that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Is there any truth in this? If so, where can it be proven

 

[diggerdomer]

It is commonly thought that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Is there any truth in this? If so, where can it be proven

It can’t be proven.

It was a common tradition in the early Church, but there’s no Scriptural or other historical evidence for it.

 

[GeorgeSword]

We know that she was a repentant sinner. That’s the origin of it in Scripture. On the other hand, all of the apostles were also repentant sinners, and that doesn’t make them prostitutes. It was Gregory the Great who originated this belief in one of his sermons, and since he held it, as did many other saints and holy people throughout the history of the Church, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t, either.

 

[diggerdomer]

We know that she was a repentant sinner. That’s the origin of it in Scripture. On the other hand, all of the apostles were also repentant sinners, and that doesn’t make them prostitutes. It was Gregory the Great who originated this belief in one of his sermons, and since he held it, as did many other saints and holy people throughout the history of the Church, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t, either.

One reason (or two reasons) it’s not necessary to hold it is that it’s not in Scripture and it’s not taught authoritatively by the Church.

 

[GeorgeSword]

One reason (or two reasons) it’s not necessary to hold it is that it’s not in Scripture and it’s not taught authoritatively by the Church.

Not necessary, no, it isn’t dogma, but considering what a widespread belief it is I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t hold it.

 

[diggerdomer]

Not necessary, no, it isn’t dogma, but considering what a widespread belief it is I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t hold it.

I don’t see a reason we should hold it. She is acknowledged as “the apostle to the apostles.”

 

[GeorgeSword]

I don’t see a reason we should hold it. She is acknowledged as “the apostle to the apostles.”

I simply think that since, as I stated above, it has been held by so many people throughout the history of the Church, saints, Popes and theologians, we too should accept their judgment which is much wiser than our own.

 

[diggerdomer]

I simply think that since, as I stated above, it has been held by so many people throughout the history of the Church, saints, Popes and theologians, we too should accept their judgment which is much wiser than our own.

That argument doesn’t cut it for me by itself. Slavery was held similarly. We need to make our own judgments based on current Church teaching which of course incorporates the entire tradition. Whether one period was wiser or not is specific to the issue at hand.

 

[bpbasilphx]

St. Mary Magdalene’s identification with the woman called simply “the sinner” (presumably a prostitute), as well as her identity as the Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and Martha, is a wide spread belief IN THE WESTERN CHURCH, which is not the entirely of the Catholic Church.

The Eastern Fathers distinguish these three women. Ss. Mary of Madgala and Mary of Bethany have separate feasts on the Byzantine calendar.

 

[thistle]

St. Mary Magdalene’s identification with the woman called simply “the sinner” (presumably a prostitute), as well as her identity as the Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and Martha, is a wide spread belief IN THE WESTERN CHURCH, which is not the entirely of the Catholic Church.

The Eastern Fathers distinguish these three women. Ss. Mary of Madgala and Mary of Bethany have separate feasts on the Byzantine calendar.

It is NOT in scared scripture nor sacred tradition that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. It was purely the personal opinion of Pope Gregory the Great. It has never been taught by the Church that she was a prostitute and it has never been accepted or taught in the Roman Church that she was Mary of Bethany. Anyone claiming otherwise is a liar or a fool.